AM 9.9.2 released
AM, an application manager for AppImages, just got another update; version 9.9.2 is now available. This latest release brings some excellent news: it adds a massive batch of new apps while also tackling several frustrating bugs.
One common complaint in the past was that the GitHub releases section quickly ran out of options when using the API. Users could only browse about three pages before hitting an apparent limit, which required them to manually keep checking for more results if they wanted everything. AM developers have now implemented a better system; after five failed attempts to reach page 3 (which is currently a workaround), the API will automatically expand the list up to 100 pages long. This should make finding all those new releases much easier.
Beyond that pagination fix, there are smaller but noticeable improvements throughout the app. AM now accurately determines the installed apps on your system. It keeps track of them more reliably, so you're less likely to see an icon pop up for something you've already got, and it's easier to manage your existing software library.
The way scripts work when using the -f flag has also gotten a tune-up. The developers removed a subshell call in that function. This tweak might seem minor, but it prevents certain types of mistakes where variables could accidentally trigger an app launch during testing or setup steps. It's just one more safety net and helps things run smoother.
For users installing programs system-wide versus locally (especially within AppMan mode), AM now correctly displays the versions for all instances, not just whichever was installed first, be it system-wide or local. This bug fix makes version comparison much clearer when you have multiple copies to manage.
Another change deals with apps in tricky spots: symbolically linked directories. Before, installing an app might mean AM wouldn't always recognize it properly. Now that's fixed, so even if your AppImage lives behind a symlink, the manager knows about it and can keep its records straight.
AM has also become more reliable for Maemo Leste users. This is a Linux distribution with different launcher routines, sometimes calling commands like startx or using other unique setups. The new version makes sure to correctly identify the appropriate launcher directory by checking if the hildon-home command exists, ensuring things work smoothly there.
This release isn't all about bug fixes though; it's also about adding features! Version 9.9.2 includes a significant increase in available applications. There are now plenty of new ones you can install directly from AM; notable additions include ryujinx-canary, the Cartridges AppImage, and scrcpygui. This fresh batch comes thanks to developers working on their separate AppImages.
In line with those app additions, there's also a technical update: the session-desktop repo has been renamed. It's now called session-foundation. Details might be minor for most users, but it reflects an ongoing effort by AM's team and others within the community to improve system integration aspects consistently.
Overall, this update feels like a solid improvement for everyone using AM. More apps are available, those annoying API limits seem less likely, app version tracking is clearer, symlinks aren't a problem anymore, Maemo users get smoother integration too, and everything just works a little better now.
Release "AM" 9.9.2
This release not only introduces 79 new apps, bringing the database to a total of 2657 unique apps (2250 AppImage packages and 407 programs in other portable formats) but also...
